Department of Occupational Therapy

Head: Mrs Tharina Coetzee (Assistant Director Occupational Therapy)

Tharina Coetzee studied at Pretoria University. She worked at Tara-, Weskoppies-, Pretoria Academic-, Kimberley- and Johannesburg Hospitals, where she obtained experience in many departments in her field of work, especially paediatrics and hands.

She serves in the Management Team for Occupational Therapy in Gauteng and is a member of the National Forum for OT in the public sector, as well as a member of the National Executive of the OT Association of SA.

Vision

We undertake to provide clients with an efficient, clean and friendly service. We work with our clients towards solutions to the functional problems that disability causes.

Overview

The department is very well staffed, after a long struggle with a depleted work force. By February 2002 the Assistant Director's post, that has been vacant for many years, was filled at last. The department also obtained seven basic grade therapist posts and two assistant posts. The positive spirit, that has always been the trademark of this section, is still present, and new staff members are soon caught up in it.

On 1 April 2002 it became compulsory for Occupational Therapy to participate in Continuing Professional Development. Courses and workshops are being organised as before, but the difference is that points can now be accumulated in the process.

The wheelchair budget, the biggest in the province, was taken over from Social Work as from 2002. Occupational therapists are trained to assess and measure patients for the most suitable chair. Wheelchair prescriptions can now be referred to OT.

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